Mixed drink poured from mixer to martini glass

In college, a party was easy: Pick up a few cheap, a bag of chips and people were having a fantastic time before you could say “Arbor Mist”. As we age, that case of Natty Ice becomes less and less appreciated, the potential for a hangover grows and our taste buds become more and more refined. The cheap stuff is no longer going to cut it. It is time to grow up and throw a classy party.

While we love beer and wine, the best way to show off a little class is to have a few cocktails up your sleeve. If you do not know Rob Roy from Tom Collins, or Bloody Mary from Shirley Temple, all is not lost! You do not need years behind a bar to be able to deliver a class A cocktail. Simple, sleek drinks are the most popular, and most only have a few ingredients. It is best to start with three simple recipes, all served in martini glasses.

All you need is a shaker (with a strainer), the required ingredients, some ice and traditional martini glasses. Before you get started, chill the glasses. (Either by storing them in the fridge or placing ice inside an hour before) Be wary of bargain shopping at the liquor store. Do yourself (and your guests) a favor and spend a few extra dollars on a higher quality product. You will be glad you did.

So let’s go from mess to mixologist with these three, classic but easy cocktails.

 

Glass of martini

Classic Martini

Classic Martini

A timeless classic, a good martini will never be perceived as anything but sophisticated. Though pervasive, the origin of the drink is not confirmed. Some claim it was created by vermouth manufacturer Martini & Rossi in the 1800s. Others claim it originated in San Francisco as an evolved version of a drink named a “Martinez”. Bold but not too difficult to drink, it is probably one of the most popular cocktails in the world. And for good reason too. It is a hard one to mess up.

Although the basic recipe is the same, there are several preferences people may have when it comes to their martinis. (To keep things as traditional as they can be, we will not focus on the bastardized martini cocktails – like cosmos, chocolate martinis, appletinis, etc. If you would like a sweeter drink, check out the sidecar recipe below.)

Many prefer vodka to the more traditional gin. Others prefer a dry martini, a dirty martini or a Gibson. All of these are only slight variations on the original martini recipe. Martinis can also be shaken or stirred.

 

2 parts gin or vodka (Suggestion: Hendrick’s Gin, and Tito’s/Grey Goose Vodka)

1 part dry vermouth

Lemon twist (lemon rind)

Fill your shaker with ice. Add the gin and the vermouth and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Rub a lemon rind around the edge of a chilled martini glass and place it inside. Strain the contents of the shaker into the glass and serve.

 

Dry Martini

Eliminate the vermouth. Shake the gin alone as directed above. Pour a splash of vermouth in the martini glass to coat the inside of the glass and pour out any additional vermouth. Pour contents of the shaker into the glass, garnish with a twist and serve.

 

Dirty Martini

Substitute vermouth for a splash of green olive juice. Garnish with a green olive or two.

 

Gibson Martini

Same recipe, but use a cocktail onion in place of any other garnish.

 

Manhattan

Manhattan

Manhattan

A favorite among the many men and women who prefer whiskey cocktails, a Manhattan is the martini’s close cousin. It was created in in the late 19th century in New York City. (Of course.) Rye whiskey gives the drink a spicier flavor, whereas bourbon is much sweeter.

Manhattans can be shaken, but a smoother, clearer cocktail is usually the result of a stirred drink.

 

2 parts rye whiskey or bourbon (Suggestion: Bulleit Rye and Woodford Reserve Bourbon)

1 part sweet vermouth

2-3 dashes of bitters (Angostura bitters are the most popular)

Cherry or lemon rind garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine ice, whiskey, vermouth and bitters. Instead of shaking, stir thoroughly for about 10 seconds with a cocktail spoon. (Don’t have a cocktail spoon? Try a chopstick.) Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish.

 

Sidecar

Sidecar

Sidecar

For a sweeter, but equally classy option, try a sidecar. Made with cognac, lemon and a sweet liqueur like Cointreau or Grand Marnier, it was most likely created in Paris in the 1930s.

Traditionally, a sidecar is served in a martini glass with a sugared rim. Prepare your glasses in advance by rubbing lemon juice along the rim of the glass and dipping it in a coarse sugar. Cool sugared glasses in the refrigerator. Though some prefer to garnish a sidecar with an orange slice or lemon twist, the sugared rim replaces the need for a traditional garnish.

 

2 part cognac (Hennessy VSOP)

1 part fresh lemon juice

1 part Cointreau (or Grand Marnier)

Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake for 15 seconds. Strain and pour into the sugared glass.

 

Congratulations, you are ready to throw a classy bash. Remember that the key to any successful party is planning. Be sure to have a surplus of ingredients on hand. Stick to the recipes. (Be creative when you are mixing a drink for yourself, not for others.) And most importantly, be confident, have fun and drink responsibly!

 

Ladies enjoying cocktails